Category: prophecy

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #6

Monday, July 29, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Peter, writing to Israel’s believing remnant enduring the (future) seven-year Tribulation, consoles them during that time of great trouble and testing. He reminds them of the “appearing of Jesus Christ” (verse 7)—Christ’s Second Coming to conclude that Tribulation.

The Apostle Peter continues (today’s Scripture with its context): “[Jesus Christ] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:8-11).

Isaiah the prophet wrote 700 B.C.: “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 59:20–60:3).

Believing Israel is to be patient during that awful Tribulation! Her Messiah is coming and they are to be mindful of that glorious coming kingdom He is bringing. They will be saved, to also participate in His glory….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #5

Sunday, July 28, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Society is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christianity (Jesus Christ never was popular with mankind anyway!). The Bible abounds with verses that discuss Jesus Christ reigning over this planet. After all, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). Creation was to originally glorify its Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, but a usurper, a trespasser, Satan, desires that worship. Hence, there exists “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4; cf. 1 John 5:19). If Jesus Christ is to reign over this planet, all individuals who oppose His will must be forcefully evicted first.

In the book of the Revelation, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John summarizes all of the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ’s return to earth (those not fulfilled at His first coming). He came once—meek and lowly to “suffer” and die for man’s sins (today’s Scripture). Now, He is coming back to righteously judge whoever rejects that sacrifice He made at Calvary, to dispossess the earth from Satan and purify it so as to reign over that creation that was originally made for Him—“the glory that should follow” (today’s Scripture).

Jesus Christ Himself foretold, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31). We see a brief glimpse of that “glory” at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 16:28–17:8; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:27-36).

At His Second Coming, Jesus Christ will leave the third heaven, with tens of thousands of mighty angelic soldiers following Him. They will glide over the Middle East, utterly conquering Satan and his troops gathered against believing Israel (Psalm 68:1-35; Psalm 83:1-18; Isaiah 63:1-6; Joel 3:1-16; Zechariah 14:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:11-21; et al.). With the opposition gone, Jesus Christ can dismount His horse and reign over earth….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #4

Saturday, July 27, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

When Jesus Christ came to His nation Israel, He had every right to utterly consume them in His wrath. They had ignored Him ever since their early days, nearly 2,000 years before, by worshipping pagan idols. When He was born as a human, they treated Him no better. For three years, He was ridiculed and slandered as being crazy, an imposter, a drunkard, a devil-possessed individual, et cetera.

Ultimately, Israel demanded the Roman government crucify Him, and they did—yea, Jesus experienced the death of a despicable criminal. Christ’s crucifixion was extremely horrific, and although He knew everything that was coming, He never fought against it. Again, the Old Testament prophets spoke of Jesus Christ as being meek and lowly, the attitude He had leading up to His death. These prophets spoke of “the sufferings of Christ” (today’s Scripture). That was His Father’s will, and He came to please His Father! “Abba, Father… nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36; cf. Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; John 18:11).

Jesus Christ will one day return to earth. This time, however, He will not be a meek and lowly donkey-rider. In those Bible days, when a king rode a horse into a foreign city or country, he was demonstrating an attitude of war toward that land’s government. Interestingly enough, the Apostle John writes in Revelation 19:11: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” This is Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, when He sheds His enemies’ blood and reigns as earth’s Supreme King, fulfilling the “glory” that today’s Scripture, and the Old Testament prophets, foretold….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #3

Friday, July 26, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Five centuries after the prophet Zechariah wrote, Israel’s Messiah-King (Jesus) rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. However, Israel cried out, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:15). Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected the third day, but Israel still refused Him. He went back into heaven as an exile, rejected of His own people. As the book of Acts progresses, we learn that Israel is content in unbelief, refusing to listen to Jesus Christ’s apostles and prophets in early Acts (who urge their brethren to accept Him so that they can avoid His wrath when He returns).

Remember, the prophet Zechariah also wrote: “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Jesus Christ came to earth the first time riding on a donkey, a gesture of peace toward Israel. Israel refused Him. After His death, burial, and resurrection, He ascended into heaven, where even today He waits until the time when He is to come back. He will return to earth on a horse, bringing salvation to Israel’s believing remnant, but declaring war on all of His (unbelieving) enemies. The “glory” of today’s Scripture must be fulfilled….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #2

Thursday, July 25, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

At about age 30, Jesus Christ began His public ministry in Israel (Luke 3:23). Three years later, near His earthly ministry’s conclusion, He rides on a donkey’s foal, a young colt, into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)—the so-called “Triumphal Entry.” Jerusalem is “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35; cf. Psalm 48:2). Thus, Jesus Christ, Israel’s King, is offering Himself to her by coming into her capital city, humbly riding on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.

Interestingly enough, in those Bible days, when a king rode a donkey into a foreign city or country, he was demonstrating an attitude of peace toward that land’s government. He was not interested in war, so he came meek and gently. By riding on the donkey, Jesus Christ is not only fulfilling prophecy, but He is also showing Israel that He desires peace between them: He wants them to turn back to Him by faith (Mark 2:17; Luke 19:9,10; Acts 3:24-26; et cetera)!

Recall when the Samaritans refused to receive Christ as He passed through their city years earlier, Apostles James and John asked Him if He wanted them to command fire to come down from heaven and consume those rebels. Jesus replied, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:55,56). Our Lord affirmed that He did not come to destroy sinners in His righteous wrath but rather He has come to save them! Remember, He is “having salvation” (Zechariah 9:9)—Jesus wants to save Israel, not destroy her.

This is why Jesus Christ was so willing to die. He could have fought off the Roman soldiers, but He did not. Rather, from His arrest onward to Mount Calvary’s cross to the grave, He was humble and silent, quiet as a sheep being led away to be slaughtered (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:14). He had to fulfill “the sufferings” of today’s Scripture….

Israel, Stand Still! #12

Saturday, July 20, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

Quoting Psalm 40:7,8, Hebrews 10:9-12 says: “Then said he [Jesus Christ], Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [covenant], that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

God will use Jesus Christ’s shed blood offered 2,000 years ago to ratify the New Covenant at Christ’s Second Coming (just as the Old Covenant was instituted with animals’ blood in Exodus chapter 24). Quoting Isaiah 59:20,21, the Apostle Paul penned: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:26,27; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:14-25).

Recall what Moses told Israel at the Red Sea: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day:…. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13,14).

As in Egypt, Israel cannot save herself: she is enslaved to sin and Satan, as she was captive in Egypt. As in Egypt, God sends a Deliverer for Israel: Moses led them from physical captivity and Jesus Christ will lead them from spiritual captivity. This time, they will enter the Promised Land, fully forgiven and free forever (the context of today’s Scripture)—not because of their works, but because of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary.

The whole world will see redeemed Israel glorified in her earthly kingdom, and JEHOVAH will be exalted forever!

~FINIS!~ 🙂

Israel, Stand Still! #6

Sunday, July 14, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

Read Psalm 46, the context of today’s Scripture: “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. [1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [3] Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. [4] There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. [5] God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. [6] The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. [7] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. [8] Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. [9] He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. [10] Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. [11] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

Verses 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11 are obvious prophetic references to Jesus Christ dwelling with Israel in her earthly kingdom. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (verse 1) was undoubtedly true regarding the Red Sea experience when JEHOVAH fought for his nation Israel and overthrew her enemies, but it also speaks of another trouble Israel’s must face, and only by JEHOVAH’S strength will she overcome that trouble….

NOTE: If you’re interested in “attending” a grace Bible conference via internet, the Grace School of the Bible Family Summer Bible Conference is underway through Thursday, July 18. You can find all the details (times, topics, and preachers) at www.graceimpact.org.

Israel’s Permanent High Priest

Sunday, July 7, 2013

“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood” (Hebrews 7:23,24 KJV).

Israel had myriads of priests who “came and went,” but this High Priest is permanent….

Remember, the context of Hebrews is “the world to come” (Hebrews 2:5). Its contents are not written to or about us Gentiles, for it is the book written to the Hebrews, and it involves a future time period. Specifically, Hebrews addresses Israel during the seven-year Tribulation (note they are looking for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming in Hebrews 10:25-31, which will conclude Daniel’s 70th week).

The book of Hebrews is to Israel what the book of Romans is to us, the Body of Christ. Romans discusses Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork and how God uses it to save us in this the Dispensation of Grace. Likewise, Hebrews teaches how God will utilize Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork to save Israel in her prophetic (kingdom) program.

“Better” appears 13 times within the book of Hebrews. God the Holy Spirit is urging Israel to leave behind the types and shadows and embrace their fulfillments which are “better”: animal sacrifices versus Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of Himself, the earthly tabernacle versus the heavenly tabernacle, the Levitical priesthood versus Christ’s Melchisedecian priesthood (today’s Scripture), the Old Covenant versus the New Covenant, et cetera.

Today’s Scripture demonstrates that Israel’s Old Testament Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood was faulty because its members died. Throughout those 1,500 years, Israel’s priests died and were replaced. Today’s Scripture continues: “but this man [Jesus Christ; verse 22] because he continueth [liveth] [for] ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” The word “unchangeable” means “nontransferable;” to wit, unlike the Aaronic priests who died and relinquished their office, Jesus Christ’s priesthood will never be transferred to anyone else because He lives forever!

At His Second Coming, Jesus Christ will take God by the hand and Israel by the hand, and join them forever; Israel will then be saved. “Wherefore, he is able also save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (verse 25). What a wonderful hope Israel has!

For All the World to See

Sunday, June 9, 2013

“And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves” (Revelation 11:9 KJV).

A century ago, today’s Scripture was enigmatic to Christians. With today’s technology, its meaning is obvious….

At the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation, God will appoint “two witnesses” whose ministry will last “a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (verse 3)—that is, 1,260 days, or the first three-and-one-half years of the Tribulation.

Halfway through the Tribulation, the antichrist will kill these two witnesses in Jerusalem (verses 7 and 8). Today’s Scripture and its context elaborate: “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” (verses 10-12).

Instant communication has become increasingly popular in recent years. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, et cetera), cellular phone usage, satellite television, blogs (such as this one!), instant messaging, email, and other “high-tech” innovations have made any place in the world literally just a “click” away. Photos and videos can be shared worldwide in mere seconds… and that applies to “private” information too! Just about anything can be found on the World Wide Web. We have a good idea how the people of the world will see the bodies of the witnesses lie in Jerusalem, and then watch them ascend into heaven.

While today’s Scripture will be fulfilled after our Dispensation of Grace has ended, today’s technology will doubtless play a role. Only God’s Book could be that amazing….

Why Do the Wicked Prosper? #7

Sunday, May 26, 2013

“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (Psalm 37:1,2 KJV).

“Why do the wicked prosper?” is an “age-old” question the Bible answered ages ago….

According to its context, today’s Scripture is actually referring to the end of Satan’s evil world system: “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (verses 9-11). Jesus Christ quoted this—“The meek shall inherit the earth”—in His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:5), referring to believing Jews who will inherit His millennial earthly kingdom, when Satan is bound and his policy and its adherents are removed from earth and then ultimately confined to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-15)!

“The wicked plotteth against the just [believers], and gnasheth upon him with his teeth” (Psalm 37:12). Now, behold verse 13, “The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.” Today’s Scripture amplifies that just as one would mow a lawn and cut down tall grass, so the Lord Jesus Christ, with a righteous sword, will sever the (haughty, prosperous) wicked from earth at His Second Coming! “For in one hour so great riches is come to nought” (Revelation 18:17a).

Return to Psalm 10, the thoughts of the believing Jews being persecuted for righteousness’ sake in the Tribulation. Note verses 12,15: “Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble…. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.” This is Christ’s Second Coming, when He defeats Satan’s antichrist. Finally, verse 16: “The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.” There is the earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ, and Satan’s evil world system and its followers are removed!